Spring structure



. R. SMITH.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLlcATloN FILED FEB. 2s. |921.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1n cnofoz/ M@ W. R. SMITH.

sPRlNG STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, L92]- LSQQpOQQ, Patented Dec. 6, H2L

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

orrore.

WATSON' R. SMITH, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

To all whom t may concern.;

Be it known that I, WATSON R. SMrrH, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Jack' son, in the cou'nty of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring Structures, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to spring structures.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of a spring structure embodying a base frame strip to which the facing or skirt of the upholstering material may be readily securedA and to which the spring supporting bars may also be readily detachably secured. Another object of the inventionresides in the provision. of al spring supporting barv construction, whereby after, the mounting of the springs on the bar, the bar may be readily let down into the frame and detachably secured to the base frameestrip.l

4 A still further object resides in the provision of a base frame and spring supporting bars constructed to be sprung or snapped into v and out of engagement with the base frame. It is still further designed to provide a spring structure embodying abase frame andy means detachably connected therewith for the support of springs mounted separately thereon whereby a complete spring structure may be let down into the base frame and supported on or `by said. supporting means.

With these and other objects in view the 4 inventionI consists in the novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and-pointed out in Ithe claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within they scopeof the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. i

In the drawings in which like characters of reference deslgnate ,corresponding parts y in the several figures,

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view `through a .portion of a spring structure 50.

,illustrating onevembodinuentv of thel present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail. perspective view of this i embodiment'of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a spring structure illustrating an,-

' other embodiment of the invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

TR'UGTURE.

Patented nee. e, rear.

23, 1921. Serial No. 447,180. i

at its lower edge with an outwardly turned flange 11 forming an external groove 12 adapted to receive the lower edge of the upholstering facing or skirt 13. The lower edge ofthe facing or skirt 13 is preferably reinforced by w1re, cord, or similar material 14 and this lower edge or skirt or facing is held tightly in leaid groove 12 preferably by compressing t f e body of the base strip 10 and the flange 11 together at intervals or by pressing or otherwise forcing' the flange 11 toward the body of the base frame strip 10, as shown, for instance, at 15.

Springs 16 of vthe single cone variety are Shown as mounted uponsuitable spring supporting bars 17. These spring ysupporting bars 17 are preferably formed of sheet metal having spatulate ends, each end being directed upwardlyas at 18,- and then down- .wardly, as vat 19, in spaced relation to the lrespective part 18 so as to form arhook at each end of each bar adapted to be readily slipped over the upper edge of the base strip. ,wWhile these hooked-shaped ends of the spring supporting bars provide for a ready connection of,the bars with the base strip and will permit of a slight sliding movement of the bars laterally, the Ahooked ends, when once placed in the structure, have such close fit with the base strip as to maintain proper position with relation to the base strip for the support of the springs. The springs mounted`on the supporting bars are generallyv tied `together in various ways and the spaced supporting bars are effectually held in proper relation to one another for the proper support of the springs.

One of the features of the present inventionresides in vthe formation of'the base frame strip and the hooked ends of the supporting bars as to effect a snapping condropped over the upper edge of the base 2. In a spring structure, a base lframe frame strip and by virtue of the rib and groove connection between the base frame strip and the hooks the latter are'sprung or snapped into engagement with the base frame strip, effecting a proper connection and obviating the possibility of an accidental upward disconnection of the spring supporting bars from the base frame strip.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there may be substituted for. the spring supporting bars 17, the short spring supports A, each having a supporting part 22 and a hooked part 23 in all respects the same as the hooks at the ends of the spring supporting bars 17 and adapted to be sprung or snapped into engagement with the base frame strip of the same formation as that described hereinbefore. These short spring supports A are preferably formed of sheet metal and their short supporting parts 22 are adapted to receive and support springs Vlet down into the base frame strip. For

instance, the springs, in .this modification, may be assembled into a suitable type of spring structure, including upper and lower i frames 24 and 25, respectively, in which the springs 26 are mounted. The lower frame 25 is preferably formed of wire and when this complete spring structure is let down into the base frame strip it may be permanently or detachably connected thereto by turning the outer ends of the arts 22 of the spring supporting members upwardly .and over the lower border wire 25 of the spring structure, as indicated clearly at 27 in the accompanying drawings.

lio

It will be. apparent from the Jforegoing that the springs proper are not connected directly with the base frame strip and that neither the springs nor their supporting members are connected with the base frame strip by a compressing of the metal to eifect .the connection. The spring supporting members have detachable connection with the base frame strip, the connection betweenwhich is effected by a springing or snapping action. The upholstering material may be connected with the base frame strip by a compressing of the metal of which the base frame strip is composed or by forcing one part of the base frame strip toward another'part thereof and there y clampin the lower edge of the upholstering materia between such parts of the base frame strip.

I claim- 1.. In a spring structure, a base frame strip provided at its lower edge with an external upwardly opening groove and having a longitudinal ribv in its outer face intermediate its edges overhanging said eX- ternal upwardly opening groove, and a spring supporting member provided with a hook Vadapted tobe snapped into engagement with the rib on the base frame strip.

face intermediate itsu edges overhanging the aforesaid groove, and a plurality of spring supporting members each provided with a hook with each hook having a groove adapted to fit over the rib in the outerface of the strip, and a .spring structure supported on said supporting members, `the walls of said external groove adapted to be compressed secure the upholstering material in the groove between the outer wall of the latter and said rib.

4. In a spring structure, a sheet metal base frame strip having an external longitudinal rib intermediate its edges, and a spring supporting member provided with a hook having a groove adapted to be snapped into engagement with the rib on' the base frame strip.

5. In a spring structure, a brace frame strip, a plurality of relatively short spring supporting members, each member provided with a portion engaging over the upper edge of the strip so as to support the members from the strip, a tongue and groove connection between the strip and members whereby to permit of adjustment of the members longitudinally along the strip and yet provide an interlocking connection between the strip and the members to prevent accidental lifting of the members upwardly ofi' of the strip, and an assembled sprin structure embodying a frame and a plurality of rows of springs supported on said supporting members, said supporting members having a part bendable into overlapping detachable connection with the assembledl spring structure so that the said assembled spring structure may be lifted up olf o f said strip with said short spring supporting members connected to the assembled spring structure and whereby the assembled spring structure may be reapplied to said strip bythe aforesaid detachable connection of said supporting members with said strip.

6. As an article of manufacture, a spring supporting member comprising a hookrected part bendable toward the U-shaped portion.

7. As an article of manufacture, a spring supporting member comprising a hookshaped member formed of sheet metal and including an inverted substantially U- shaped portion andi a relatively short laterally directed part bendable toward the U- shaped portion, one part of the hook portion having an internal groove.

8. Inja spring structure, a base frame strip, a plurality of spring supportinw members, said members and said strip having detachabletongue and groove connection between them, and an assembled. spring structure supported on said supporting members, said supporting members having a part bendable into overlapping connection with' the assembled spring structure so that said assembled spring structure may be lifted up olf of said strip with said spring supporting members connected to the assembled spring structure, and whereby the assembled spring structure may be reapplied to said strip by the said members without disconnecting the assembled spring structure from the supporting members.

In testimony whereofv I have hereunto set 1n hand.

y WATSON R. SMITH. 

